Britain's best suburbs

Twenty years ago, living in the suburbs, if not a badge of shame, was
certainly not cool. But with space at a premium in our city centres and
prices climbing higher, we appreciate our suburbs more than ever. The best
British suburbs are great places to live, not simply dormitories for weary
commuters. There are financial rewards to be reaped, too. In picking the top
20 suburbs, I have tried to focus on the quality of life, not just property
prices and ease of access to the cities. Good schools, shops and leisure
facilities, plus a strong sense of community, all play their part.

20 Jordanstown, Belfast

Seven miles north of Belfast city centre, with an attractive setting on
Belfast Lough, this is a congenial suburb, popular with professionals. You
can find a three-bedroom bungalow for about £240,000, which represents
better value than suburbs to the south of the city. Sought-after streets
include Circular Road and Old Manse Road. The area is living proof, as are
the other suburbs listed here, that settling just outside a city centre
needn’t take you away from the heart of the property action.

On the market: a large semi-detached villa on Jordanstown Road:
£249,950 with McMillan
(028 9080 0000).